Mahdi Ali: We must keep our World Cup hopes alive

Published on: 27 March 2017

Sydney: United Arab Emirates coach Mahdi Ali knows it’s last chance saloon for his team as they prepare to face Australia in a do-or-die FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Asian Qualifiers at the Sydney Football Stadium on Tuesday night.

UAE sit fourth in Group B with nine points behind Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia, and know only a win will keep their dream alive of qualifying for their second FIFA World Cup.

RUSSIA 2018 ASIAN QUALIFIERS: AUSTRALIA V UAE PREVIEW

“We know it’s a very important game tomorrow for both teams,” Ali said.

“If we want to keep our chances for this qualification we have to make a good result tomorrow to keep our chances alive.

“It’s very important for us to make a positive result tomorrow, because if we lose it will be very difficult for us, even for third place. So we are looking forward and we are ready for tomorrow’s game.”

Star striker Ahmed Khalil, who missed the game against Japan in Al Ain with a calf injury, should return to bolster the Emirati attack, although Ali said the final decision was yet to be made.

“Since we came here and had the first training, for him it was the first training with the team (since returning from injury) but the final decision will be taken after today’s training,” he said.

One player who will definitely be playing is their star attacker Omar Abdulrahman, and after a quiet game against Japan, Ali is convinced he will perform much better against Australia.

“It happens for the team or for any player, that sometimes it’s not your day," Ali said.

“He’s a good player, and he’s a very important player for the team. I think most of the games he has played well, so it’s very rare that he doesn’t play a good game. But tomorrow I think he’ll play a good game.”

Ali, meanwhile, refused to be drawn into speculation about his own future.

“I don’t feel that pressure,” he said.

“I am doing my job, because as I said from a long time back, I am not only a coach, I am a UAE citizen and I have the same feelings as the players and the fans.

“I am very happy about what I did, I do not regret what I did. I do my job, I try to work hard with the players and the team, which we always work together as a team, as a family. At the end whatever happens this is God’s will. We cannot change this destiny.”

Photos: Lagardère Sports

Source: the-afc.com

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